The internet has given us easy access to tons of knowledge of almost any kind. This near-unlimited access has given us the ability to acquire information on just about anything that’s available to the public. This includes guides on playing a musical instrument, planning a trip, and even performing a wide variety of home repair projects that we’d normally leave to professionals.
While this is a big help to people who would rather do things themselves, it can put less skilled people in danger. Especially when the task that they are trying to perform truly requires professional experience and skills.
Some home repair projects are fine for DIY. For example, tasks like bathroom renovations are alright to do on your own. Then there are other home repair projects that you should never attempt on your own. A few of these tasks are:
Home Repair Projects on Wet or Flooded Basements
One common home repair project that many people attempt to fix on their own is a wet or flooded basement. While it’s easy to simply rent inflatable pipe plugs to stop any leaks in your basement, the greater danger lies in the form of contaminants like asbestos, lead, and mold. It’s not just the flooded basement you have to worry about, but the potential chemicals that are loose. Professionals are able to identify these issues and they have protective equipment so they can do the work without risking their health.
Foundation Repairs
Another common home repair project you should leave to the professionals is anything having to do with your house’s foundation. These types of repairs should be deferred to professionals because there is absolutely no room for any error of any kind. A poorly done foundational repair could compromise the structural integrity of your house. Hire a licensed professional for peace of mind.
Pest Extermination / Removal
Getting rid of pests is another common home repair project that many people take on themselves. However, while there is an abundance of information on how to get rid of pests on your own, professionals are going to be more aptly equipped for the job. Not only that, but they are also trained to detect the points of ingress that these pests use to get into your home. Professionals are going to do a much more thorough job.
Anything Related to Your Water Main
Again, there are many types of plumbing problems and plumbing-related home repair projects that you can definitely handle on your own, but when it comes to your water main or needing to replace all of your water pipes, it’s best to just hire a plumber. This is because these pipes will often run under other materials and walls. If these were improperly installed, you could have a multitude of bigger problems like water leaking from your walls, flooding, or worse. In addition, if these pipes were installed near electricals, they could become a major safety or fire hazard.
Home Wiring/Rewiring
Another home repair project that you should leave to the professionals is dealing with home wiring or rewiring. Apart from the obvious dangers of handling with electricals, the improper installation of wires is very potent fire hazards. This is also considering that there’s so much more to electricity than simply the presence or lack thereof of electricity. There are voltages, power outputs, and power loads to consider, and these are things that the average consumer wouldn’t have competent knowledge of.
If you truly want to learn how to perform these home repair projects yourself, then it’s highly recommended that you get proper training, certifications, and respective licenses. You could even consider making a business out of flipping houses.